GAVIN Henson's Test career will remain on hold for at least another six weeks as Wales are now certain to launch their RBS 6 Nations title defence without him.

GAVIN Henson's Test career will remain on hold for at least another six weeks as Wales are now certain to launch their RBS 6 Nations title defence without him.

Grand Slam star Henson's earliest possible return to the international arena will not be until February 26 when Wales tackle Lansdowne Road hosts Ireland.

Although the Ospreys centre had a 72-day ban reduced by three weeks after a lengthy appeal hearing in Dublin last night, he is still out of the Six Nations opener against world champions England early next month, and Scotland's visit to Cardiff eight days later.

Henson was suspended for 10 weeks and two days after being cited and found guilty of elbowing Leicester prop Alex Moreno during a bitter Heineken Cup clash between the Ospreys and Tigers just before Christmas.

Henson's initial ban ran until March 6, but his likely comeback game will now be the Ospreys' Celtic League clash against Borders on February 17.

The 23-year-old refused to comment as he left the hearing, having played just three games this season due to a combination of injury and suspension.

Frustration

An Ospreys spokesman though, mirrored Henson's sense of frustration.

"It is still disappointing," he said. "But at least there has been a reduction.

"We felt justified in appealing the initial ban. There could have been more sympathy for Gavin, but we have accepted the panel's decision."

Henson's absence from Wales' opening two Six Nations games will be a severe blow to coach Mike Ruddock, who has already lost injured players Kevin Morgan, Chris Horsman, Brent Cockbain, Tom Shanklin and Ryan Jones from his plans for this season's tournament.

The appeal committee was chaired by Brian McLoughlin, of the Irish Rugby Football Union, assisted by former Ireland and Lions prop Phil Orr and the Scottish Rugby Union's Peter Brown.

They accepted Henson's change of plea to guilty that he had struck Moreno with his elbow.

After the Ireland game, Wales conclude their Six Nations schedule with home fixtures against Italy and France, so Henson will not have given up hope of featuring at some stage in the competition.

Henson's late long-range penalty gave Wales an 11-9 victory over England in Cardiff last season, and he would have been an integral part of Ruddock's planning for the Twickenham trip - a ground where Wales last won in 1988.

Henson has not played for Wales in the Grand Slam-clinching victory over Ireland almost 10 months ago, having missed the entire autumn Test programme while he recovered from groin surgery.